Trash can assembly

ABSTRACT

A trash can assembly has a shell having an enclosing wall that defines a periphery. The assembly has a lid fitted over the top of the shell, and a foot pedal positioned adjacent the bottom of the shell, with a portion of the foot pedal positioned inside the periphery of the shell. The assembly also includes a link assembly coupling the foot pedal and the lid. The assembly can also include a liner defining a container body, the liner fitted inside the shell and having an indent provided on the container body. A handle mechanism has a link strip that has a hooked end, with the hooked end engaging the indent to lift the liner from inside the shell.

RELATED CASES

This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No.09/746,574, filed Dec. 22, 2000, and entitled “Trash Can Assembly”,whose entire disclosure is incorporated by this reference as though setforth fully herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to household items, and in particular, toa trash can assembly that incorporates a number of improvements andenhancements.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A major concern for both the home and the workplace is containing andholding wastes, refuse, and trash until permanent disposal. Trash cansact as containers for holding trash and other wastes that are producedin any typical home or office. Trash and garbage cans often employ lidsand covers to contain the trash and its associated odor, to hide thetrash from view, and to prevent the trash from contaminating areasbeyond the lid.

Conventional trash cans have been improved over the years to make themmore user-friendly, sanitary, and hygienic. For example, many trash cansare now provided with a foot pedal positioned adjacent the base of thetrash can so that a user can step on the foot pedal to open the lid ofthe trash can, thereby freeing up the user's hands to toss trash, or tochange the plastic liner or bag that is used to line the trash can.Other trash cans have even provided an interior metal or plastic linerthat fits inside the trash can, and which can be removed to be washed.However, these conventional trash cans still suffer from a number ofdrawbacks.

For example, the foot pedals on some of the conventional trash cans(e.g., such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,024) are positionedawkwardly in that they extend a considerable distance from the body ofthe trash can to provide a sufficiently large surface area for theuser's foot, and also to provide sufficient leverage for the user tostep on and pivot the foot pedal. Unfortunately, suchoutwardly-extending foot pedals are prone to being inadvertently kickedby people as they walk around the vicinity of the trash can.

Other problems are associated with the internal liner. In conventionaltrash cans, the user typically needs to remove the liner from the trashcan to dispose of the contents therein. To do so, the user typicallylifts the liner from the trash can, and this may result in the usergripping portions of the interior of the liner, so that the user'sfingers may come into contact with dirt, germs or trash items.

An additional problem relates to the fact that the wastes placed withinsuch a container may produce odors, smells, and other harmful gases.Inevitably, the lid will need to be opened to deposit the waste, therebyallowing the odors and smells to escape from the trash can. Odors andsmells may also escape from the trash can even when the lid is closedbecause some lids do not provide a tight seal with the trash cancontainer.

Thus, there remains a need for a trash can that overcomes the drawbacksidentified above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is an object of the present invention to provide a trash can assemblythat has an improved step pedal that is less prone to being kicked yetenhances its ability to control the opening of the lid of the trash canassembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a trash canassembly that allows the user to conveniently remove an internal linerin a sanitary manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a trash canassembly that minimizes the undesirable odor of the waste productsstored therein.

In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there isprovided a trash can assembly that has a shell having an enclosing wallthat defines a periphery. According to one embodiment, the assembly hasa lid fitted over the top of the shell, and a foot pedal positionedadjacent the bottom of the shell, with a portion of the foot pedalpositioned inside the periphery of the shell. The assembly also includesa link assembly coupling the foot pedal and the lid.

According to another embodiment, the assembly has a liner defining acontainer body, the liner fitted inside the shell and having an indentprovided on the container body. In one embodiment, the assembly alsoincludes a handle mechanism having a link strip that has a hooked end,with the hooked end engaging the indent to lift the liner from insidethe shell. In another embodiment, the shell has an open top edge, withat least one recess provided along the top edge so that a user can liftthe liner from the position from any recess.

According to yet another embodiment, the assembly has an air fresheningdevice secured to its lid. The air freshening device can be a charcoalpad, or an electrical ionizer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the trash can assembly accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the trash can assembly of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a liner that can be used with thetrash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6A is an isolated perspective view of a link assembly that can beused with the trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6B illustrates the portion B of the link assembly of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C illustrates the hinging portion between the lid and the shell ofthe trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates how the handle mechanism of the trash can assembly ofFIG. 1 operatively couples the liner of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a trash can assembly accordingto another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating amodification to the trash can assembly of FIGS. 1-8.

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a partial side plan view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a trash can assembly according to yetanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 12 shownwith the inner liner being lined with a trash bag.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 13 shownwith the inner liner and its trash bag fitted inside the outer shell.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 11 shownwith the lid closed.

FIG. 16 is a rear plan view of the trash can assembly of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratinggeneral principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances,detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omittedso as to not obscure the description of the present invention withunnecessary detail.

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate one embodiment of a trash can assembly 20 accordingto the present invention. The assembly 20 has an outer shell 22 and aninner liner 24 that is adapted to be retained inside the outer shell 22.As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the liner 24 is a container that has anelongated indent 26 provided in the side wall 28 extending upwardly ashort distance from the bottom 30 of the liner 24.

The outer shell 22 is a generally cylindrical shell that has a generallyoval or egg shape. The liner 24 can have the same shape. The oval or eggshape of the shell 22 is best illustrated in the top plan view of FIG.5. The width F of the opening at the front of the shell 22 is greaterthan the width R of the opening at the rear of the shell 22. Thisconfiguration for the shell 22 and its liner 24 allows the interiors ofthe shell 22 and the liner 24 to receive and accomodate wider and largerwaste objects, such as pizza boxes. In addition, the narrower rear ofthe shell 22 allows the shell 22 to fit more easily in corners of thehouse.

A lid 32 is hingedly connected to the top of the outer shell 22. Theshell 22 and its lid 32 can be made of a solid and stable material, suchas a metal. A handle mechanism 34 is provided along the outer surface ofthe shell 22 and is operatively coupled to the indent 26 of the liner 24for lifting the liner 24. A toe-kick recess 36 is provided on the shell22 adjacent the base 38 of the shell 22, and is adapted to receive afoot pedal 40 that is pivotably secured to the base 38 of the shell 22.The toe-kick recess 36 is part of the base 38, and the shell 22 woulddefine a curved cut-out to receive the recess 36. The curved cut-out inthe shell 22 can be made by first cutting out a properly sized andconfigured hole in the body of the shell 22, and then inserting aplastic curved panel that defines the actual recess 36. The recess 36extends upwardly for a short distance and extends into the interiorconfines of the shell 22. A link assembly 42 (illustrated in greaterdetail in FIGS. 6A and 6B) extends from the foot pedal 40 along the base38 and then upwardly along the shell 22 to the lid 32. The link assembly42 operates to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal 40 to anup-down pivot motion for the lid 32. Each of these components will bedescribed in greater detail hereinbelow.

Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 38 of the shell 22 defines agenerally annular and curved skirt or flange portion 50. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the skirt 50 is formed in oneplastic piece. The base 38 further includes a pedal housing 52 that ispositioned adjacent and below the recess 36, and is adapted to receivethe pedal 40. In particular, a shaft 54 can extend longitudinally acrossthe pedal 40 and be received inside openings provided on opposing walls56 and 58 of the pedal housing 52. As a result, the pedal 40 would pivotabout an axis defined by the shaft 54. The base 38 also has crossingsupport ribs 60 and 62 that are positioned adjacent the top of the skirt50. The support ribs 60, 62 can be provided with protruding notches 68that are adapted to hold and support a horizontal rod 64 of the linkassembly 42 for rotation therein. In addition, pads 66, which can bemade of rubber, can be positioned in spaced-apart manner about theperiphery of the skirt 50 to prevent the base 38 from slipping. Theshell 22 and its recess 36 can be attached to the top of the skirt 50 ofthe base 38 by glue, welding, screws, and similar attachment mechanisms.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the foot pedal 40 ispositioned somewhat inside the interior of the shell 22, and only aportion of the pedal 40 extends beyond the outer cylindrical peripheryor surfaces of the shell 22. This positioning is of significance to thepresent invention.

One significance is that the foot pedal 40 can extend radially outwardlyfrom the shell 22 by about the same extent as the skirt 50, and isconfigured so that the foot pedal 40 itself appears to form part of theskirt 50 (i.e., flush with the skirt 50) to provide a more aestheticallypleasing appearance (see FIG. 11). This positioning makes the foot pedal40 less susceptible to being inadvertently kicked by people walkingaround the vicinity of the trash can assembly 20. More importantly, bypositioning most of the step pedal 40 inside the outer periphery of theshell 22, a larger pedal 40 (i.e., a pedal 40 with a larger top orstepping surface area) can be provided to create additional steppingspace. This increased stepping space makes it easier for the user tostep on the pedal 40, and to maintain the step, because this increasedstepping space helps to generate more power during the step (for thereasons explained in the next paragraph).

Another significance is shown in FIG. 3, where the pivot point (i.e.,shaft 54) of the foot pedal 40 is positioned well inside the interior ofthe outer periphery of the shell 22. This is to be contrasted withconventional foot pedals, whose pivot points are usually positionedfurther outwardly, and usually outside the shell 22, such as illustratedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,024. This inward position for the pivot pointprovides several benefits. First, this inward position for the pivotpoint provides a smaller pivoting angle for the pedal 40. The smallerpivoting angle means that the user's foot does not need to pivot as muchto effectively step on the pedal 40, so that the user's foot is lesslikely to slip when stepping on the pedal 40. Second, this inwardposition for the pivot point requires less stepping force to open thelid 32 (i.e., deploy the link assembly 42) than if the pivot point werepositioned further radially outwardly. This is because providing thepivot point further inside the outer periphery of the shell 22 allowsthe pedal 40 to be provided in a larger size, as discussed in theprevious paragraph. Having a larger size allows the distance from thepivot point to the outer edge of the pedal 40 to be increased, and thisincreased distance means that more power can be generated using lessforce.

Yet another significance is that since the foot pedal 40 is constructedas part of the base 38, the pedal 40 can be positioned closer to theground (i.e., vertically lower). As a result, the user's foot does notneed to pivot as much to effectively step on the pedal 40, so that theuser's foot is less likely to slip when stepping on the pedal 40.

FIGS. 3, 6A and 6C illustrate how the lid 32 is hingedly coupled to theshell 22. A hinge housing 70 is provided adjacent the top of the shell22. A carrying handle 130 can be provided on the outer surface of thehinge housing 70. A hinge bracket 72 is attached at the top of the hingehousing 70, and carries two spaced-apart L-shaped extensions 71 and 73.The rear of the lid 32 has a plastic hinge piece 75 that carries twospaced-apart plates 77 (one of the plates adjacent extension 71 is notvisible in FIG. 6C). An opening 81 is provided in each extension 71, 73and plates 77, the openings 81 being aligned so that a pin 74 (which canbe part of the carrying handle 130) can extend through all the openings81 in the extensions 71, 73 and the plates 77 to create a pivot joint.Thus, the lid 32 is able to pivot from the opened position (see FIG. 3)to the closed positioned (see FIG. 2) about the pivot point defined bythe pin 74.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 6A and 6B, the link assembly 42 operativelycouples the foot pedal 40 to the lid 32 so that stepping on the footpedal 40 will cause the lid 32 to open. The link assembly 42 has ahorizontal rod 64 and a vertical rod 76 that cooperate to translate anup-down pivot motion of the pedal 40 to an up-down pivot motion for thelid 32. The rods 64 and 76 can be made of steel. In particular, thehorizontal rod 64 is held by the ribs 60, 62 of the base 38, and has anL-shaped (i.e., at 90-degrees) terminal end 78 that extends out of thehorizontal plane of the rod 64, and which is positioned adjacent thebottom of the pedal 40. For example, the terminal end 78 does not needto be connected to pedal 40, since the pedal 40 can can sit on top ofthe terminal end 78 via gravity. The horizontal rod 64 extends acrossthe base 38 to an opposite side of the shell 22, where an opposing end80 of the horizontal rod 64 has an L-shaped leg 82 (i.e., at 90-degrees)that also extends out of the horizontal plane of the rod 64, and that issecured to a generally L-shaped (i.e., 90-degree) plastic hinge 84. Theplastic hinge 84 can have two lumens, one in each leg of the L-shape,with the leg 82 secured in one of the lumens and a lower end 86 of thevertical rod 76 secured in the other lumen. The vertical rod 76 extendsvertically up along the inside of the shell 22 adjacent the inner wallof the shell 22, and extends through the hinge housing 70 and the hingebracket 72 to an upper end 88 that is secured to a block 90 that isattached to the rear of the lid 32 and retained in the hinge piece 75.Thus, when the user steps on the pedal 40 (see arrow A1 in FIG. 3 andarrow A1 in FIG. 6A), the pedal 40 presses on the terminal end 78, andthe L-shaped and out-of-plane nature of the terminal end 78 causes thehorizontal rod 64 to rotate as shown by the arrow A2. Because theopposing end 80 is also L-shaped and extends out of the horizontal planeof the rod 64, this rotation torques the plastic hinge 84 to push thevertical rod 76 up (see arrow A3). When the vertical rod 76 is pushedup, the vertical rod 76 will in turn push the lid 32 upwardly to pivotor swing the lid 32 open about the pin 74. As long as the user's foot isstepping on the pedal 40, the link assembly 42 will maintain the lid 32in its opened position. When the user releases the stepping force,gravity will push the lid 32 and vertical rod 76 down, pivoting ortorquing the plastic hinge 84 in a direction opposite to the directionof arrow A3, and reversing the rotation on the horizontal rod 64 to liftup the pedal 40 in directions opposite to the directions of arrows A1and A2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the handle mechanism 34 operates tolift the liner 24 from the interior of the shell 22, and can be lockedto maintain the liner 24 in the lifted position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.The shell 22 has a recessed region 100 provided about its centralportion. The recessed region 100 has a generally square or rectangularconfiguration, and is adapted to receive the handle 102 and link strip104 of the handle mechanism 34. The handle mechanism 34 has a handle 102that is pivotably coupled to a link strip 104. The handle 102 can be agenerally flat piece of plastic or metal, and can be pivotably coupledadjacent its lower side 103 to the shell 22 at the top of the recessedregion 100 (e.g., by inserting a pin 105 through a bore adjacent thelower side 103). The link strip 104 is preferably made from a materialwith sufficient strength to support the liner 24, such as plastic,steel, or a composite of plastic and steel. The link strip 104 has afirst section 106 that is pivotably coupled (e.g., by inserting a pin108 through a bore 110 at the end of the first section 106) to amid-portion of the handle 102. The link strip 102 has a second section112 that extends perpendicularly to and inwardly from the first section106, which is then connected to an elongated third section 114 that isgenerally parallel to the first section 106. The third section 114extends through a slot 120 in the recessed region 100 to extend insidethe shell 22. The third section 114 has a hooked end 116 that is alwayspositioned inside the shell 22, and which is adapted to engage the upperwall 118 of the indent 26. FIG. 7 illustrates the liner 24, and only therecessed region 100, handle 102 and link strip 104 while omitting theother elements of the shell 22.

FIGS. 1, 3 and 7 illustrate the handle 102 in the lifted or removalposition, with the liner 24 being lifted partially out of the interiorof the shell 22. To close the handle 102 and allow the liner 24 to fallback into the shell 22, the handle 102 is pivoted downwardly in thedirection of the arrow A4. The pivoting of the handle 102 occurs aboutthe pivot axis defined by the pin 105. The pivoting of the handle 102simultaneously causes the link strip 104 to pivot about the handle 102about the pivot axis defined by the pin 108. As the link strip 104pivots, it is pushed vertically downwardly by the handle 102. As thelink strip 104 slides down, the hooked end 116 also slides down withinthe elongated indent 26. The force of gravity will cause the liner 24 toslide down the interior of the shell 22 together with the hooked end116. After the handle 102 has been pivoted by 180 degrees from theposition shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the handle 102 will be in thestorage or lowered position and will occupy most of the recessed region100.

To lift the liner 24 from the storage position to the lifted or removalposition, the handle 102 is pivoted upwardly in the direction oppositeto the direction of the arrow A4. The upwardly pivoting handle 102 willactuate the pivots about the pins 105 and 108, which will cause the linkstrip 104 to be pulled upwardly. As the link strip 104 moves upwardly,its hooked end 116 (which is in engagement with the upper wall 118 ofthe indent 26) will simultaneously pull the liner 24 upwardly within theshell 22. Once the handle 102 is pivoted upwardly to about 120 degrees(i.e., also referred to as an “over-center” position) from its verticalstorage position, the handle 102 will reach a locked position so thatthe handle 102 will be automatically biased to the vertical lifted orremoval position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7. When the handle 102 reachesthis lifted or removal position, the liner 24 will be lifted to theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 (i.e., a portion of the liner 24 beinglifted out of the shell 22), and will be maintained in this position bythe locked handle 102 until the handle 102 is pivoted downwardly againin the direction of the arrow A4.

The present invention also provides apparatus to combat the foul odor ofthe waste products stored inside the trash can assembly 20. FIGS. 3 and8 illustrate one embodiment, where a charcoal pad 140 can be secured tothe inner surface 142 of the lid 32 by a removable attachment mechanism132, which can be a nipple connector, opposing VELCRO™ pads, a hook, afastener, glue, a screw-in connection, or the like. The charcoal pad 140can be any conventional charcoal pad, which is activated carbon thatfunctions to absorb odor. The air flow (see arrows in FIG. 3 that aredirected towards charcoal pad 140) enhances the absorption of odor byforcing air through the charcoal, causing the charcoal to absorb theodor carried by the air.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment, where an ionizer box 150can be secured to the inner surface 142 of the lid 32 by any of theattachment mechanisms 132 described above. Alternatively, the ionizerbox 150 can be formed as part of the lid 32, and provided with anopening through which electric ions can be introduced and removed. Apower cord 152 couples the ionizer box 150 and extends from the ionizerbox 150 into the interior of the hinge housing 70 and coupled to a powersource 154, which can be a battery pack. The power source 154 can besecured to the shell 22. By locating the power source 154 in the hingehousing 70, the present invention avoids adding unnecessary weight tothe lid 32, making it easier for the user to open the lid 32, and tokeep the lid 32 opened. The ionizer functions by forcing O₂ (oxygen)into O₃ (via electric charge), with the third oxygen molecule splittingoff with the pollutant, leaving behind fresh O₂ (oxygen). The ionizercan be turned on at all times, or a sensor (not shown) can beincorporated to sense the opening and closing of the lid 32 (i.e., sensemovement). As a result, the sensor will sense movement of the lid 32 andthen function to turn on the ionizer for a specified time (e.g., fifteenminutes).

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate modifications that can be made to the trash canassembly of FIGS. 1-8 and 11. The trash can assembly 20 a in FIGS. 12-15has the same construction as the trash can assembly 20 in FIGS. 1-8 and11, except for the changes noted below. Therefore, the same numeraldesignations are used for both the trash can assemblies 20 and 20 a todesignate identical elements, except that an “a” is added to thedesignations in FIGS. 12-15.

The trash can assembly 20 a differs from the trash can assembly 20 inthat the handle mechanism 34 and its accompanying components have beenreplaced by a different mechanism. In the trash can assembly 20 of FIGS.1-8 and 11, the handle mechanism 34 functions to lift the liner 24 fromthe interior of the shell 22 in a sanitary manner. However, the trashcan assembly 20 a in FIGS. 12-15 provides a different mechanism foraccomplishing the same function. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 12 and13, an annular support frame 200 is attached to the top edge 202 of theshell 22 a in a manner such that the frame 200 is slightly offset fromthe outer surface of the shell 22 a to define a shoulder 204 along thetop edge 202. The annular frame 200 has a height that is slightly lessthan the height of the lid 32 a, and the annular side wall of the lid 32a rests on the shoulder 204 so that the frame 200 is positioned interiorto and adjacent to the annular side wall of the lid 32 a. One or morerecesses 206 are provided in spaced-apart manner around the frame 200.

As best shown in FIG. 13, the liner 24 a (which can be identical to theliner 24) is fitted inside the shell 22 a, and a conventional trash bag208 can be placed inside the liner 24 a and the top edges of the trashbag 208 everted over the top edge of the liner 24 a. When the liner 24 aand its trash bag 208 are fully seated inside the shell 22 a (see FIG.14), the top edge of the trash bag 208 will be exposed at the regions ofthe recesses 206. Therefore, when the user wishes to remove the liner 24a, the user merely grips the top edge of the liner 24 a and its trashbag 208 at the location of any recess 206, and then manually lifts theliner 24 a. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, when the lid 32 a isclosed, no part of the trash bag 208 will be exposed outside theconfines of the shell 22 a and the lid 32 a because the liner 24 a andits trash bag 208 are completely retained inside the interior of theshell 22 a and the annular frame 200.

FIG. 16 is a rear plan view of the trash can assembly 20 a illustratinganother modification. Here, the hinge housing 70 in the trash canassembly 20 is modified so that the handle 130 is now replaced by ahandle grip 220 that is integral (i.e., part of the same piece) with thehinge housing 70 a. The hinge housing 70 a can be made in one piece, andthe handle grip 220 can be a groove cut from the outer surface of thehinge housing 70 a so that the user can insert his or her fingers intothe groove to grip the hinge housing 70 a, and hence carry the trash canassembly 20 a in this manner. By providing a handle grip 220 that isintegral with the hinge housing 70 a, the separate and space-occupyinghandle 130 can be omitted to reduce the cost of the trash can assembly20 a and to minimize the storage and packing space needed for the trashcan assembly 20 a.

Thus, the trash can assembly 20 of the present invention provides animproved and larger pedal 40 that is positioned and structured toprovide more effective opening of the lid 32 and more convenient use bythe user. In addition, the handle mechanism 34 and the recesses 206provide effective mechanisms for lifting the liner 24 out of the shell22.

The above detailed description is for the best presently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratinggeneral principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances,detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms andmethods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the presentinvention with unnecessary detail.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A trash can assembly, comprising: a shell having anopen top edge and an outer surface, with the open top edge having aframe extending from the top edge in a manner such that the frame isoffset from the outer surface of the shell, the frame having a top edge;at least one recess cut from the top edge of the frame; a lid fittedover the top edge; and rigid liner fitted inside the shell and having atop edge, with a portion of the top edge of the rigid liner beingpositioned adjacent the at least one recess.
 22. The assembly of claim21, wherein the lid surrounds the frame.
 23. The assembly of claim 21,wherein the frame is offset from the outer surface of the shell todefine a shoulder along the top edge.
 24. The assembly of claim 23,wherein the lid has a side wall which rests on the shoulder so that theframe is positioned interior to the side wall of the lid.
 25. Theassembly of claim 21, wherein the shell has a bottom end and aperiphery, the assembly further including: a foot pedal positionedadjacent the bottom end of the shell, with a portion of the foot pedalpositioned inside the periphery of the shell; and a link assemblycoupling the foot pedal and the lid.
 26. The assembly of claim 21,wherein the shell is made of metal.
 27. The assembly of claim 26,wherein the lid is made of metal.
 28. The assembly of claim 21, furtherincluding an ionizer provided on the lid.
 29. A trash can assembly,comprising: a shell having an open top edge; a lid fitted over the topedge, with an ionizer provided on the lid; and rigid liner fitted insidethe shell.
 30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the shell includes anouter surface, with the open top edge having a frame extending from thetop edge in a manner such that the frame is offset from the outersurface of the shell, the frame having a top edge; and at least onerecess cut from the top edge of the frame.
 31. The assembly of claim 29,wherein the frame is offset from the outer surface of the shell todefine a shoulder along the top edge.
 32. The assembly of claim 31,wherein the lid has a side wall which rests on the shoulder so that theframe is positioned interior to the side wall of the lid.
 33. Theassembly of claim 29, wherein the shell has a bottom end and aperiphery, the assembly further including: a foot pedal positionedadjacent the bottom end of the shell, with a portion of the foot pedalpositioned inside the periphery of the shell; and a link assemblycoupling the foot pedal and the lid.
 34. The assembly of claim 29,wherein the shell is made of metal.
 35. The assembly of claim 34,wherein the lid is made of metal.